VELIGANDU EAST

Veligandu East is an advanced dive site in the Maldives reaching thirty meters depth, located on the eastern side of Veligandu Island where the reef face drops into the deep blue waters of the atoll. The site offers experienced divers dramatic wall diving, impressive soft coral decoration, and the larger marine encounters that characterize the exposed eastern reefs of the Maldivian archipelago. The dive begins at the reef top where healthy hard corals create a vibrant shallow garden before the wall drops away with dramatic verticality. The eastern exposure means the site receives the full force of oceanic currents, which drive exceptional biological productivity. The wall face is decorated with spectacular soft coral growth — gorgonian fans in vivid colors, branching formations, and cascading soft corals creating a living tapestry of extraordinary beauty. The pelagic encounters on the eastern wall are a major draw. Grey reef sharks patrol the wall edge, eagle rays sweep along the face with characteristic grace, and schools of trevally and barracuda create silver formations in the blue water beyond. The deeper sections harbor larger residents — massive groupers in the cave entrances, and the possibility of hammerhead sightings in the deeper blue. The reef's diverse habitats support marine life from the tiniest nudibranchs to impressive pelagics, creating a complete ecosystem that rewards both wide-angle appreciation and detailed observation. Veligandu East delivers advanced Maldivian wall diving of excellent quality — dramatic topography, rich marine life, and the exposure to oceanic conditions that makes eastern reef diving among the most exciting experiences in the Maldives.